Promoting physical health in older sexual minority Italian Adults: Resources and obstacles

Introduction. The elderly individuals belonging to the sexual minority face a dual form of societal prejudice, intertwining their sexual identity and advancing age. The present study aims to investigate how encounters with discrimination, the process of coming out, and personal resilience may influence physical health of older lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. Methods. The present study was supported with funding from Next Generation EU [DM 1557 11.10.2022], in the context of the PNRR, Investment PE8 – Project Age-It: “Ageing Well in an Ageing Society”. The sample comprised 82 Italian cisgender LGB adults aged 65 and above, with a majority falling into the category of young older adults (65-70 years; 78%) and the remaining constituting older adults (over 71 years; 22%). In terms of sexual orientation, the participants included sexual minority women (n = 30; 37%) and sexual minority men (n = 52; 63%). Results. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed that sexual minority women reported lower levels of physical health compared to sexual minority men. Concurrently, older adults reported heightened experiences of discrimination and prejudice in comparison to their younger counterparts. Further, outcomes from hierarchical multiple regression analysis emphasized that being open about one's sexual orientation, possessing higher resilience levels, and encountering fewer instances of discrimination were indicative of better physical health, irrespective of age or sexual minority categorization. Conclusion. These results underscore the importance of investigating the aging process among sexual minority individuals. Acknowledging and understanding LGBTQ+ issues becomes crucial in recognizing the distinctive needs and strengths of older LGB individuals, thereby fostering a healthier aging trajectory.